We continue with our in-depth research into the Hebrew Roots Movement (HRM). It is also known as Hebraic Roots and Jewish Roots. You can read the introduction to this series here.
Adherents of HRM believe that Christianity left its Hebrew Roots centuries ago and that what they are doing now is bringing Christianity back to its “roots.”
The research format for this series is in two sections:
- Section One — what adherents and critics believe about the doctrine and practice of the Hebrew Roots Movement
- Section Two — what I believe about the doctrine and practice of the Hebrew Roots Movement
We are still in Section One of this series.
We looked at the HRM belief of keeping the Sabbath Day in the last two parts of our series. We turn now to the keeping of the annual Hebrew feasts. We will hear from HRM adherents in this part and critics in the next part.
The Annual Feasts
Gentiles have been (and are still being) accepted into the Commonwealth of Israel through Messiah Y’shua. Therefore, it is incumbent upon those same Gentiles to follow the laws of that Commonwealth, i.e., the Written Torah. Not only are Gentiles now part of the Commonwealth of Israel, they have actually been grafted into the very Olive Tree of Israel and are now partakers of the richness which comes from the root of that Olive Tree. That richness includes the Written Torah, the Prophets, and the Writings; in other words, the Hebrew Scriptures.
Leviticus chapter 23 is the Festival Chapter of the Bible. Here is found, laid out in chronological order, all of the Festivals which God commanded the children of Israel to observe: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “The feasts [moed] of the LORD, which you shall proclaim [kara] to be holy [kodesh] convocations [mikra], these are My feasts [moed].”‘” (Lev. 23:1-2) The very first thing that must be noticed about this passage is that these Feasts are not the “Feasts of Israel,” or the “Feasts of the Jews;” they are the Feasts of the Creator God who made the heavens and the earth: “‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.'” (Jer. 32:17) In order to be abundantly clear, God repeated Himself in verse four when He again stated these Festivals belong to Him: “‘These are the feasts [moed] of the LORD, holy [kodesh] convocations [mikra] which you shall proclaim [kara] at their appointed times [moed].'” (Lev. 23:4)
The Festivals consist of seven Holydays, five of which occur within three pilgrimage Seasons. In addition there are intermediate days within the two seven day Festival Seasons which are not termed “Holydays.” The three seasons are explicitly mentioned in Exodus … The seven Holydays are set-apart from normal work days, just as the Weekly Sabbath is set-apart from the other six days of the week.
An Introduction to the Feasts of the LORD [YHVH], Hebrew Roots Press
The Biblical festivals teach us about the first and second coming of Yeshua. The festivals also teach us about our personal relationship with Yeshua and how we progressively grow in faith in Him. These teachings will reveal Yeshua in the Festivals and the spiritual applications today for believers in Yeshua.
Biblical Festivals, Hebraic Heritage Radio
Gnostic doctrine taught AGAINST the feast days and Sabbaths because of matters of food and drink. Gnostics taught that everything physical was evil, and thus feasting was evil, and they even believed that God (of the Old Testament) is evil. The Gnostics were teaching this to the Colossians and convincing them that they should abandon the Feast days and Sabbaths.
Paul encourages them (the Colossians) to keep the Feast Days and Sabbaths and not let themselves be judged by the Gnostics telling them otherwise. Sadly, mainstream Christianity has flipped around what Paul was teaching, as though Paul was telling the Colossians to abandon the Law of God. In other words, in mainstream Christianity’s eyes, Paul would be agreeing with the Gnostics in that verse, but yet still be against them in every other verse in Col. 1-2. Obviously that does not make much sense. In addition, we know that Paul defended himself against every accusation against not teaching what Moses wrote. This of course would include teaching that not one commandment can be added to or taken away from what Moses wrote (Deut. 12:31) and that the whole law is even for the foreigner/alien (Gentile) grafted in (i.e. Numbers 15;15-16). Yet, mainstream also accuses Paul of not teaching what Moses wrote. Paul is STILL having to defend himself. Mainstream Christianity creates the contradictions in Paul’s writings. Hebrew Roots doctrine reconciles and solves them.
119 Ministries
As a Christian seeks to enrich their faith by incorporating biblical Holy Days into their family traditions, the amount of information on these days and how to celebrate them can be overwhelming and confusing. I’d like to offer just a basic overview of the 7 “appointed times” commanded by God to be kept by His people in Leviticus 23 (and elsewhere).
Chapter 23 opens with a repeat of the command to keep the Sabbath. The Sabbath is sometimes called the most holy of days so it would be a good place to start if you don’t already keep it. It continues on to list and explain the 7 Holy Days: Passover, Unleavened Bread, Firstfruits, Shavuot, Yom Teruah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
Basics of the Biblical Holy Days
Sacrifice is the major feature of the feasts. Believers in Mashiach are not responsible to keep these feasts, but knowledge of them enhances our faith.
The Jewish Holidays
The Lord’s Holy Days, Feast Days, Jewish Feasts, Appointed Times, Mo’edim — whatever term you use, don’t miss these days! If you are seeking more intimacy in your walk with Yeshua, learning about, experiencing and keeping these feasts (including the Sabbath) will bring you not only into deeper intimacy with him, but Yehovah will shower you with new understanding, unexpected blessings, strengthened faith and fresh excitement daily. I highly recommend it!
Messianic Sabbath
In addition, to keep the Festivals and Feasts as rehearsals and proclamations of the coming fulfillment of each promise made in His Eternal Covenant. All of the Lord’s appointed times call for a ‘Holy Convocation’ to gather and worship Him, and we do this, not in forced servitude, but in the Joy of Holy Spirit! His Heavenly timing inserts His remnant bride into a prophetic time-line that both blesses and protects; helping to ensure that she finds herself doing the ‘right thing’ (service), at the ‘right time,’ in the right place. [Acts 17: 26-27]
Statement of Faith, Acts II Ministries
One of the most important commandments we find in the Word involves worship, especially the weekly Sabbath and annual Feasts. The Feasts are an everlasting commandment in Yahweh’s Word. They were observed in the Old and New testaments and will be observed in the coming millennial Kingdom. If these days are new to you, we encourage you to look into them and come to a greater and deeper knowledge of your Father’s Word.
Yahweh’s Restoration Ministry
eBook
You can download a free eBook of Chapters One – Five of this study here. Please share with family and friends as God leads.
Next Time
In the next part of our special series, The ‘Hebrew Roots’ Movement, we’ll look at a critical response to the HRM belief that believers should keep the Jewish feast days.
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